An Orlando car accident involved a fatality, a professional golfer and allegations of street racing. As Orlando car accident lawyers, we find this incident troubling and further evidence of a growing problem of street racing by older drivers. Personal injury and wrongful death resulting from careless driving will happen, but intentional street racing causing serious injury and death should never occur.

In this case, professional golfer Arjun S. Atwal was seen speeding on Orange County Road 535 with another vehicle driven by an Orlando businessman who was killed in what authorities said was an apparent street race between the two men. Witnesses told investigators from the Florida Highway Patrol that the cars appeared to be racing at speeds greater than 100 mph. John Park lost control of his 2006 Mercedes-Benz coupe on a turn and hit a tree, and Atwal’s 2006 BMW sedan spun out. Troopers reported that the Orlando car accident turned fatal when Park’s Mercedes-Benz basically disintegrated after hitting the tree. He never stood a chance of survival. Atwal was not hurt.

By itself, engaging in a street race is a misdemeanor. But if a race turns deadly, a driver can face serious criminal charges. Jerrod Abbott of Umatilla went to prison on vehicular-homicide charges in one of Central Florida’s most notorious street-racing car accidents. He was released this year. Abbott was racing Dwight Samples, whose car accidentally slammed into a car his mother was driving, killing her and her friend.

According to law enforcement street racing has become a high-profile problem. Sadly, you would not expect this kind of activity on public roads. Certainly, you would not expect a PGA Tour player and a mature Orlando businessman to be participating. While the facts of this fatal Orlando car accident are still to be determined, we do know that street racing does happen. We must all remain alert to avoid serious injury or death.